Man Kills Mother With Wrench 'To End Misery' (why this treatment)

David Powell said he planned to take his own life after killing his elderly mother but was unable to go through with it.

A pensioner admitted killing his 95-year-old mother with a wrench "to end her misery" after she said she wanted to die.

David Powell, 74, told police he found the burden of caring for his elderly mother too much and did not feel able to carry on.

He had planned to take his own life after the deadly attack but he was unable to go through with it.

Powell has been given a hospital order at Stafford Crown Court after admitting the manslaughter of Cecilia Powell at her home in Penkhull, Stoke, on grounds of diminished responsibility.

The court heard Powell called the police on the evening of 9 April to report his mother's death and told police that he had killed her an hour earlier.

But when questioned by officers, Powell, of Longton Road, Barlaston, admitted he had actually killed her three days earlier.

Detective Inspector Andy Maxfield, of Staffordshire Police, said: "Mrs Powell's death was particularly tragic as she was killed by her own son, the person who had once been her carer.

"Powell claimed that his mother had expressed a wish to die and that his intention had been to end her misery and die with her as he felt unable to cope.

"He claimed he could see no other way out.

"This has been a very upsetting case. Powell found the burden of caring for his mother too much to bear, and did not feel able to carry on.

"For an elderly woman to die in such violent circumstances is extremely sad. "Nobody deserves to end their days like that."  Sky news